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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 18, 2005 Marjorie Edens fills a bird feeder in her Jacksonville back yard. Edens, a historian and master gardener, will donate her two local properties upon her death to support the Britt Gardens. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven A garden legacy Marjorie Edens expresses her dedication to the Britt Gardens by planning to put two properties in trust for their maintenance By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune Marjorie Edens looks to the future and past when discussing Jacksonville’s most famous pioneer, Peter Britt — and his beloved gardens. Edens, a historian and master gardener, speaks wistfully of the Britt Gardens’ glory days. Then, with a smile, she confirms a rumor that she is placing her two Jacksonville properties in a trust to fund the gardens’ maintenance upon her death. But first, Edens says, the Britt lower gardens must be rescued from their current state of neglect. "People used to take the train down here to see the gardens. They were that well-known," says Edens. "I see (restoring) the (lower) Britt Gardens as a really long project. But I also see it as a destination garden." Jacksonville City Planner Scott Clay says Edens’ talent and experience will benefit the city as well as the gardens. Edens, he says, will lead the renovation in a way that will honor both Britt and the people of Jacksonville. Advertisement "Marjorie will create a working landscape as Britt would have liked to see it," says Clay. Paul Korbulic, Jackson County’s director of roads, parks and planning, says the county actually owns the garden property. He says, in addition to benefiting Jacksonville residents and gardening enthusiasts, those who walk through the gardens to attend Britt concerts will enjoy this added attraction. "Seventy thousand people go through there every year, and they will benefit from her actions and her generosity," says Korbulic. Britt Festivals Director Ron McUne says many concertgoers don’t even realize they are in the historically significant area while wandering up the gardens’ paths. "We get calls all the time asking us ‘What about these famous gardens?’," says McUne. "They don’t even know where they are, they’re so unstructured and unkempt. This could be much more of a showpiece. This could be a boost for the area and for Southern Oregon." Part of a larger Britt Festivals master plan, the lower gardens have a plan of their own created by landscape designer David Glenn Jacquat in 1999. Jacquat’s plan weaves the garden’s history as a showcase of flora for Britt’s original home, with its new role as a historic landmark and tourist attraction. Clay says Edens is familiar with Britt’s original garden plans from her 24 years working for the Southern Oregon Historical Society as their field services coordinator and oral historian. "She’s viewed the glass plate negatives," says Clay. "This is a special love and interest of hers." Eden’s trust fund opens the door for the foundation to begin acquiring more grant money for the gardens’ actual restoration. Edens, 64, inherited the two properties on East "F" Street from her parents, Fred and Clorine "Renie" Edens, who built a ranch-style home there in 1957. Edens’ grandparents used to own the entire block, she says. Edens dual focus on history and gardening comes by nature and nurture. She grew up in a Jacksonville home surrounded by adults who loved gardening and the annual music festival. "I learned gardening from my grandmother and mother," says Edens. "My parents housed the personnel manager of the Britt Festivals. And, therefore, we housed many of the musicians, as well." Edens is vice president of the Applegate Garden Club and became a master gardener through the local agricultural extension office. Edens is retired from the historical society but remains active in gardening, collecting art and serving on the boards of the Friends of the Jacksonville Library and the Jacksonville Boosters Club. She is also a member of the Rogue Art Gallery. "I get to do what I choose to do," says Edens. Edens is unmarried and has no heirs. She hopes her decision to leave her estate to the Britt gardens may encourage others to consider a similar disposition. Currently valued at approximately $500,000 and covering half a block, Edens’ properties will likely increase in value before becoming available for liquidation. But, she says, she has no plans to leave her Jacksonville home, or this mortal coil, any time soon. "I hope to live for a long time, yet," she says with a smile. "It’s kind of a planned giving." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] Gardens will be refurbished as part of master plan Gardener and historian Marjorie Edens will leave the bulk of her estate in a trust to be used for the maintenance of Britt Gardens. The gardens are scheduled to be refurbished by the Jacksonville Booster Club as a part of a coordinated Britt master plan. Edens’ donation will lay the maintenance funding framework necessary to acquire grant money to actually fund the restoration project. Located near Highway 238, the lower gardens are a part of an extensive garden system created by Jacksonville’s famous pioneer. In addition to Britt’s love of photography, he was also an orchardist, winemaker and beekeeper. The gardens were often used as both subject and backdrop for Britt’s photography. The lower gardens at the Britt Festival grounds revolved around Britt’s home and included formal boxwood hedges combined with bold tropical plants such as yucca and European fan palm — which were kept in his solarium during harsh winter months. In addition to rare plants, Britt’s gardens were also full of fruit — pears, apples, figs and grapes. The many blossoms kept his bees happy — and his apiaries full of honey. A land-use concept plan created by landscape designer David Glenn Jacquat shows a historical center on the former site of the home, solarium and photography studio. Jacquat’s plans show a walled garden that will reintroduce Gothic architectural details of the Britt home. The open-framed structure will support Akebia and wisteria vines. A gateway structure is conceived as a wooden arbor flanking the upper public entryway. A spring garden is conceived as a potential site for spring weddings with its abundance of spring flowering bulbs, trees and flowering shrubs. Restoring and replanting the home site’s existing stone fountains and ponds will bring back one of the garden’s long-standing traditions. A grotto shade garden and water flume will occupy what was once the interior of the main brewery building. This overgrown, inaccessible portion of the property is destined to become a main feature of the garden. The water flume that once fed the brewery water wheel will become a waterfall that empties into what was once a wine cellar. The waterfall will be the first view visitors will see upon entering the gardens from the lower level. The flagstone flooring is designed to have tables and chairs to create a shady retreat. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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